View 2025 Event Booklet

About the Regatta

This family-oriented event is held each year at Shell Point Beach on the Gulf of Mexico in Southern Wakulla. For over five decades, the Stephen C. Smith Memorial Regatta has been bringing together sailing enthusiasts from across the region. Named in honor of Stephen C. Smith, a local sailor who died from a rare from of leukemia at the age of twenty-nine, this event celebrates the spirit of competition, camaraderie, and love for the sea. Whether you're a seasoned competitor or a first-time participant, you'll find a welcoming community and exciting challenges on the beautiful waters of Shell Point, Florida.

Looking back at the last three events we are "blown away" from our great fund-raising success. In the last 52 years the Stephen C. Smith Memorial Regatta (SCSMR) Foundation, Inc. (a 501c3 organization) and our generous donors, volunteers, and sponsors have contributed over $600,000.00 toward supporting the American Cancer Society programs. Your contribution to this event helps our community support the fight against cancer and provides educational programs and patient services to your neighbors and families in the Big Bend region of Florida (Franklin, Gadsden, Jefferson, Leon, Liberty, Madison, Taylor, and Wakulla counties.)

The 2026 Regatta event organizers are the Shell Point Sailboard Club and the Apalachee Bay Yacht Club, and numerous businesses and individuals. So, what do we do to continue our momentum for this 53rd event? We are still losing loved ones, friends, and neighbors to cancer. Let us continue to do all we can to support the families impacted by cancer.

Featured at the family-oriented event will be sailboat and windsurfing races, beautiful sights and beach activities for non-racers, a catered dinner Saturday night, and a closing auction on Sunday afternoon.

How Can You Help?

Opportunities

• Become a Named Sponsor. If you are a continuing sponsor or donor, we thank you. Can we count on you once more this year?
• Does your employer provide a company match for charitable contributions?
• Advertise in the Regatta Program Booklet that is distributed prior to, and at the event. Locals often later use the booklet to choose a company to use, providing excellent and lasting exposure.
• Do you want to make an honorary donation for someone gone too soon?
• Make a donation to recognize and encourage your survivor.
• Would you like to volunteer? We are a lot of fun, even when fighting cancer.

To be an important part of the event, contact a SCSMR Official
Andrea Schwendinger Bennett	Wright C. Finney
2025 Event Chair	SCSMR Foundation President
(850) 321-5350	(850) 668-7700
ads0568@gmail.com	wfinney@fsu.edu

Sponsor Opportunities

Presenting Sponsor ($5,000) Sponsor Benefits:

Saturday night luminarie bags remembering and honoring our loved ones.

In Honor of Cristina Tucat

In Memory of Steven Graves

In Memory of Steven Graves

In Memory of Louise Harms and John Webster

In Memory of Patricia Madden

Sailing

The Regatta has drawn as many as 200 registered participants and hundreds more spectators from all over the southeast. The event includes: races for yachts rated under the PHRF handicapping system, catamarans such as Hobie Cats, smaller day sailors including Sunfish, and windsurfers, the most numerous and arguably the most colorful participants in the Regatta.

Catamarans and one design day sailors, and small and large (22 feet and over) monohulls will race over their own courses as with the windsurfing fleet. Races and activities for sponsors, spectators and participants are held both Saturday and Sunday depending on fleet/activity (see event schedule).

The public is invited to view the races on Saturday and Sunday, and get lunch at the Regatta Grille. Plan to participate in the Sunday afternoon auction of thousands of dollar's worth of donated items. The auction begins after the trophy presentations (about 2:00 pm). Everyone can have a wonderful time and pick up some great deals while contributing to help fight cancer.